Ilex plant named ‘GDJ’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Ilex aquifolium , ‘GDJ’, that is characterized by its well-branched, compact, and broadly upright plant habit, its variegated leaves that emerge with medium green centers with bright yellow-green margins and mature to dark green centers with yellow margins, and its leaves with a glossy surface.

Botanical classification: Ilex aquifolium.

Cultivar designation: ‘GDJ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ilexplant, botanically known as Ilex aquifolium ‘GDJ’ and will be referredto hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘GDJ’. ‘GDJ’ represents a newherbaceous perennial grown for container and landscape use.

The Inventor discovered the new cultivar, ‘GDJ’, in 2011 as a naturallyoccurring branch mutation of the Ilex aquifolium cultivar ‘Alaska’ (notpatented) in a container block at his nursery in Hazerswoude, TheNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings by the Inventor in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands in 2011.Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘GDJ’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Ilex.

-   -   1. ‘GDJ’ exhibits a well-branched, compact, broadly upright        plant habit.    -   2. ‘GDJ’ exhibits variegated leaves that emerge with medium        green centers with bright yellow-green margins and mature to        dark green centers with yellow margins.    -   3. ‘GDJ’ exhibits leaves with a glossy surface.

The parent of ‘GDJ’, ‘Alaska’, differs from ‘GDJ’ in having leaves thatare not variegated. ‘GDJ’ can most be most closely compared to the Ilexaquifolium cultivars ‘Aureo Marginata’ (not patented), ‘ArgenteaMarginata’ (not patented) and ‘Northern Lights’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.20,083). ‘Aureo Marginata’ differs from ‘GDJ’ in having a less compactand less branched plant habit and in having leaves that are larger insize with a less shiny surface. ‘Argentea Marginata’ differs from ‘GDJ’in having larger leaves with margins that are white in color. ‘NorthernLights’ differs from ‘GDJ’ most significantly in having variegatedfoliage with yellow-green centers and dark green margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Ilex. The photographs were takenof a 1.5 year-old plant of ‘GDJ’ as grown in a field plot in,Hazerswoude, The Netherlands and placed in a container for thephotographs.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side-view of ‘GDJ’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the mature leavesof ‘GDJ’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the young leaves of‘GDJ’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Ilex.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 1.5 year-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown outdoors in a field plot in Hazerswoude, TheNetherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General characteristics:    -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, broadly upright.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 68.5 cm in height and 75.8            cm in spread.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5.        -   Heat tolerance.—At least tolerant to temperature up to 35°            C.        -   Diseases and pests.—No particular resistance and            susceptibility to pests and diseases has been observed.        -   Root description.—Slightly fibrous, not fleshy and fine,            moderately dense and 161A in color.        -   Root development.—About 45 days to initiate roots at 25° C.,            young rooted plants are produced in 3 to 6 months.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—Young stem; N144D, axially striped 143A, mature            stems, 138A, axially striped 145B.        -   Stem size.—An average of 25.6 cm in length and 4 mm in            diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Smooth and very slightly glossy.        -   Stem strength.—Very strong.        -   Internode length.—An average of 1.2 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branched, an average of 22 lateral            branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Sharp acuminate and curved downward.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color on upper and lower surface            144A to 144B.        -   Leaf margins.—Undulate and sharply spinose, an average of 20            spines per leaf (10 on each side).        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Upright and outward, slightly recurved.        -   Foliage fragrance.—None.        -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces glabrous thick and leathery.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; a blend between 141A and            143A, margins and spines 151C, young lower surface; 146C to            146D, margins and spines 150C to 150D, mature upper surface;            a blend between 147A and N189A, blotched with 147A, margins            and spines 6D, mature lower surface; a blend between 138B            and 191B to 191C, margins and spines 5D.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 7.3 cm in length and 3.8 cm in            width.        -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 22 per lateral branch.        -   Petioles.—An average of 7 mm in length and 1.8 mm in width,            color 144C, surface; smooth and slightly glossy.-   Flower description: Flowers have not been observed to form on the    new cultivar to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ilex plant named ‘GDJ’as herein illustrated and described.